House to kick off debate over proposed new laws to protect federal fisheries, waterways

A young dolphin is seen with his mother "Malou", 23 years old, at Marineland aquatic park in Antibes, southern France,Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006.The young dolphin was born last Dec.23, and weighs 12 kg. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

After spending the last few days going over the fine print of Team Trudeau’s plan to overhaul the federal fisheries laws to boost environmental and habitat protections, MPs will get their first chance to put their thoughts — and concerns — about the plan on the parliamentary record during the opening round of debate on Bill C-68, which is set to begin this morning.

That proposal was introduced last week in conjunction with a similarly ambitious legislative bid to restructure the federal environmental assessment process, which is also expected to make its second-reading debut later this week.

Later this evening, the House will deliver its collective verdict on two recent opposition motions: A New Democrat-driven call for the government to live up to its commitment to crack down on offshore tax havens and stock option deductions, and the Conservatives’ challenge to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to ensure the survival of the proposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

On the other side of Centre Block, Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc is slated to make a mid-afternoon appearance on the floor of the Senate chamber during the now traditional weekly ministerial question period.

ON & AROUND THE HILL

Canadian Union of Postal Workers pay equity committee member Nancy Beauchamp updates reporters on the “struggle for pay equity for rural and suburban mail carriers” during a mid-morning press conference at CUPW’s Ottawa headquarters.

Also on the capital agenda today: the Canadian Global Affairs Institute hosts a mini-summit on “Canada’s state of trade,” which will feature a speech by International Trade deputy minister Tim Sargent and an “overview” from NAFTA negotiator Steve Verheul , as well as panel discussions with former federal industry minister John Manley, former Quebec premier Jean Charest and representatives from the Canada-Europe Round Table.

Meanwhile, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute is promising to “bring together the best and brightest from both sides of the border to chart a course forward for the future of Canada-US relations” during a “premier event” at the Canadian War Museum this evening. On the speakers’ list: US. Ambassador Kelly Craft, Texas Congressman Pete Sessions, lawyer Frank Buckley and Canada Institute expert Laura Dawson, with the ensuing discussion to be moderated by Canada’s former ambassador to the United States, Frank McKenna.

OUTSIDE THE PRECINCT

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay marks Agriculture Day by unveiling a new suite of “programs and activities” that will, as per the advisory, “help the agriculture and food sector innovate, grow and prosper.”

More from iPolitics

1 comment on “House to kick off debate over proposed new laws to protect federal fisheries, waterways”

West coast fishery and whales held hostage. No pipeline no DFO Ocean Protection Plan money. BC is fighting to keep a chronically underfunded fishery alive. Minister Leblanc has a fondness for in-ocean alien Atlantic Salmon fish farms, he defends them in court, he uses same lab as fishfarmers (conflict of interest), denying the presence of virises in fishfarms and fish plant emissions. DFO officer found the virus almost immediately. Alexandra Morton used a reputable lab on the east coast and found it too. Now DFO questioning scientific method. Indigenous and environmentalist and private lawyer cross the table from fish farm DFO Minister and gov’t lawyer. He is aware of critically low numbers in salmon varieties, but did not give DFO enough funding (at least on west coast) for fishery officers enforcement officers to crack down on ilegal fishing, habitat river cleanup. He has had more than 2 years to put moratoriums on feed fish like herring (running now) or endangered South Vancouver Island orcas food, the chinook. They will starve to death. Short sighted politcal term sockeye, etc. Fishers have been saying where are the fish? Look at stats on catches, the fishery is collapsing. He knows, then McKenna, Carr and Trudeau come out and say Kinder Morgan will be going through, as it is part of their energy plan which connects with Ocean Protectio Plan. No pipeline no OPP monies. This past Sunday McKenna was on the West Bank show, while talking about Kinder Morgan she brought up we don’t want to go down the path of Greece bankruptcy or Greek austerity Is that fear mongering?